OBJECTIVE

After completing this unit, you should be able to:

Mastercam

Raster To Vector Images Conversion:

This Worksheet walks you through how to import Raster images into Mastercam. Mastercam is a vector software, where most images for the internet and other sources are Raster Images. Raster images are made up of thousand of pixels of differing color, where vector images are image of line that use mathematical formulas to determine their shape. In this activity you will learn how to convert Raster images to Vector images that Mastercam can use.

1. Using the internet search for your desired Image. Logos or images with sharp color changer work best, try to avoid pictures taken with a camera. .jpg, .gif, .bmp are the file extension currently supported by Mastercam.

2. Try to get the larges image possible. When Using Google examine the images sizing information located under the image. The Larger the number the better.

3. Then navigate to the raw picture by clicking on the image.

4. Click on See full size image.

5. RIGHT CLICK on the image and select Save Image As…

6. Save your raster image to a location that you know.

7. Launch Mastercam 2017

8. Once it loads Press ALT-C or Run User Application (under Setting) a window will open called Chooks. This is a collection of  add on file to mastercam.

9. Navigate and click on Rast2Vec.dli

10. It many ask you of you want to keep current Geometry. Then, Click Yes

11.Navigate to your saved image and click on it.

12. The Black White conversion window will open.  Slide the Threshold slider in the Black White conversion dialog box until the image on right shows the desired amount of detail.

13. When you like what you see. Then, click OK.

14. Rast2Vec window will popup no modification should be needed.  Then, click OK.

15. When the Adjust Geometry opens. Then, click OK.

16. Your image should now be on the screen.

17.  Click Yes to exit Rast2Vec.

Scaling and Dragging or Translate your image

After you have imported a image it often not in the right location or the proper size that you need. You need to Scale it up or down and Drag it to the position that you would like.

Scaling:

1. From The ToolBar >Xform>Scale

2. Then Select all the line that part of your image. The Line you select should turn yellow. You can use a window or select each line individually. If you pick a line you do not what just pick it again and it should change back form yellow.

3. Once you have selected your entire image then click on the Green Ball.

4. The Scale window will open. Change To MOVE and to PERCENTAGE, and then adjust the percent up or down until your image is the size you would like. After typing the new percentage number hit ENTER on the keyboard. This will preview that size change. Once the size is what you are looking for. Then, click OK.

Dragging or Translate

1. From the Tool Bar>xfrom>Drag or Translate

2. Once again select all the line that part of your image.

3. Once you have selected your entire image then click on the Green Ball.

4. Change from Copy To Move.

5. Click near your Image in the graphics screen. As you move your mouse the image will move.

6. Once the image is in the proper place LEFT Click again and it will place the image.

MASTERCAM SETUP

1. Turn on the Operation Manager window by pressing Alt-O

2. Click on Machine Type – Mill, then select the HASS 3X MINI MILL – TOOLROM.MMD-5.  You  should see the HASS 3X MINI pop up in the Operation Manager window.

STOCK SETUP

1. Click on the plus sign next to Properties to see the drop down list and click on stock setup.  The Machine Group Properties dialog box should appear.  Check the box next to Display to activate it, then click on the Bounding Box button.  The Bounding Box dialog box should appear.  Confirm that X, Y AND Z are all be set to zero then click OK.

2. Change the value of Z to stock you are using, then click OK.  On an isometric view, you should see your part go from 2D to 3D with the image on the top surface.

TOOL SETTING

1. Click on Tool Setting.  Enter a program number….Feed Calculation should be “From Tool.” Under Toolpath Configuration, check “Assign tool number sequentially” and “Warn of duplicate tool numbers.” Under Advanced Operation, check the “Override defaults with modal values” box and then check all three selections below it.  Under Sequence #, change the start number to 10.  Select the material by clicking on the Select button.  Click on the drop down arrow associated with Source and select “Mill – library.”  From the list, select “ALUMINUM inch – 6061”  then click OK.  Click OK to exit the Machine Group Properties dialog box.

CREATING TOOLPATHS

1. Choose Toolpath – Contour.  The chaining dialog box should appear.  Select Window to choose your engraving elements, then click anywhere to establish an approximate start point (selection will change to yellow).  Click OK to bring up the 2D Toolpaths – Contour dialog box.

2. Toolpath Type should automatically be set to Contour.

3. Click on Tool (below Toolpath Type) then click on Select Library Tool button.  A Tool Selection dialog box will appear.  To limit the list to a particular type of tool (ball end mills which will use for engraving), Click on Filter then select/de-select tool types so that only Endmill2 Sphere is highlighted.  Click OK.  Choose the 1/32 Ball Endmill  followed by click OK.  Change federate to 5.0 and Spindle Speed to 4000 then click OK.

4. Under Cut Parameters, Compensation Type should be off.

5. Under Lead In/Lead Out, Uncheck the Lead In/Out box as will not be using this feature.

6. Under Linking Parameters, Clearance should be set to 0.5, Retract should be 0.1, feed Plane should be 0.1, Top of stock should be O.0 and Depth should be -0.015.  Then click OK.

7. Run Verify Selected Operations in the Operations Manager to see the toolpath.

UNIT TEST

1. What software is Mastercam is?

2. Please explain the Threshold Slider.

3. Lists file supported by Mastercam.

4. Describe scaling and dragging or translate image.

5. Describe stock setup.

6. Describe the tool setting.

7. Explain how to create Toolpaths.